We get them here in IAH (Houston, TX) quite often. We get the AN-124, the AN-12, and about three times a year the AN-225. While I certainly agree with you that it's rare to see them at other locations in the US. Russian a/c have a certain "flair" that makes them interesting.

If we went into the funeral business, people would stop dying.-Martin S. (PanAm CEO)

Probably the timing of your presence (or of those with a camera). You will have to go back in time to find Russian built passenger aircraft as commonplace visitors to U.S. airports. Early to mid 90's (at least for the East Coast and the Midwest). The West Coast has been blessed with much more recent visitors. Keep in mind that the UK is and has been mostly served by Russian short-range aircraft (hence there are more photo opportunities out there). These are much more common than the long-range aircaft that used to serve the U.S. markets.

I have personally witnessed IL-86s take off from JFK (one mighty sight), and IL-62's at both Chicago and Miami.

Russian passenger aircraft are definitely a rarity in the U.S. these days. You are more likely to spot a Russian cargo aircraft. . These custom aircraft are probably the best aircraft that the Russians ever built, and there is definitely a worldwide market for these out there.

I think we don't see them as much here because they are mostly used by European and Asian airlines and they use them for shorter distances. And most Russian made civilian aircraft don't really have the range to reach America from Eastern Europe/Russia which is mostly where they are used.

Cubana used to operate Tupolev a/c into MIA when I was a kid. I believe they were TU-114's? (I'm probably totally wrong there). But an interesting fact was that they would leave Havana extremely light on fuel, because they could readily, and for much less money, purchase Jet-A in the states! It would be great if Cubana operated their new IL-86 to the US!
And the AN-24 recently made a stop in my base of IAH, from OPF. We were in the employee lot when this loud, low flying, and incredibly smoky Russian a/c rumbled overhead! It made a couple flights into IAH after that, but I haven't seen it since. Any idea of when/if it'll be back? Thanks!

If we went into the funeral business, people would stop dying.-Martin S. (PanAm CEO)

Nope. They flew the 727, 720 and 707 on those routes (after they took them from Lanica). I actually never saw the TU-154 anywere else but MGA. Anybody has any info on what routes they covered or maybe somebidy flew on it. Would love to hear about it!

Not to be too anal, however Antonov is based in the Ukraine, not Russia. And since these planes were designed and built during the 60s, 70s and 80s they are Soviet era aircraft. So perhaps the title should read "Soviet era aircraft in the US".

Hehe and Ukraine no longer wishes to be called "the Ukraine" as ukraine means borderland in russian/ukrainian, thereby implying Ukraine is a borderland of something (i.e. its large neighbor, Russia). So it is just "Ukraine."

If we're talking passenger aircraft, the only Russian long-range plane which is allowed to fly to the West under current noise restrictions is the IL-96. The IL-62 is too noisy. And since there are very few IL-96s around (I don't remember exactly, but less than 20), it's natural that very few of them will ever visit the USA.

Among medium-range and short-range airplanes, later versions of the Tu-154, plus Tu-204 and Tu-214 are still allowed to visit the West. I also believe that it's techincally possible to equip the Tu-134 with hush-kits which would enable it to fly to the West, but that the cost would be too high.

The IL-86 is too noisy, and also does not have the range for nonstop flights to North America, although I did fly on an IL-86 nonstop once between SVO-KHV, which is 6100 km. But that plane was almost empty.

Russian airline Domodedovo Airlines is planning on starting Miami-Moscow/DME service this summer, using IL-96 aircraft 3x per week. It will be the only scheduled trans-Atlantic service between the US and Russia with a Russian plane. They received tentative DOT approval in late January and should get final DOT approval this week or next.